Royal Mail defends leaving football legend Billy Wright off new stamps

The new set of stamps, called Football Heroes, features 11 players from England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

They include World Cup winners Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and Gordon Banks, as well as icons like George Best.

But Wright, England’s most capped captain, was omitted.

It is the second time in a month that fans in the county have been angered at an apparent snub to the Wolves and England legend, after he was left off a commemorative shield to mark the Football Association’s 150th anniversary.

But Royal Mail has defended leaving him out this time, claiming the Ironbridge-born player had been included in a previous stamp collection.

Royal Mail spokeswoman Natasha Ayivor said: “Royal Mail does indeed appreciate Billy Wright, and he was honoured with a stamp in our Football Legends issue of 1996.”

Wright was the first person to reach 100 caps for England, played 105 times for England and captained them at three World Cups.

In his impressive career he was also never booked or sent off.

The new Royal Mail stamp collection includes John Barnes and Jimmy Greaves, who many fans felt never excelled for the England team.

Of the 32 images on the FA commemorative crest, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard warranted inclusion but Wright and World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton were left out.

At the time of Wright’s ommission from the stamps collection.

Wolves season ticket holder Carl Jones said: “This latest snub is as baffling as it is disgraceful. Billy Wright was a wonderful player and perfect role model who captained his country 90 times – still a world record.

“He played 70 consecutive games for the national team – still a world record.

And he led England in three World Cup campaigns – still a world record.”